Date: 6/1/04
Author: Maeghan Major

Maeghan Major (pic: Bill Jamison)

A lot people think that wakeboarding is just a sport for the guys. Sure, with big air, hard crashes and monstrous wakes, who wouldn't? However, the reality is that nothing could be further from the truth. Wakeboarding is for us girls as well. All the ladies need are a few little hints and tips to be on their way and to help them avoid a few of those hard crashes.

While most wakeboards out there are still focused on men, we girls still have some great options. Yes, we know that all the girl boards are just a guy's board with pretty graphics, but that doesn't mean that they aren't great boards for the fairer sex. Every company has a "female" board. The Hyperlite Divine (a personal favorite) is a great board for girls of all ages and skill levels. It is very stable and smooth; it has awesome pop and is very forgiving. The Liquid force Diva is a fun board with great pop and good stability with it's molded in fins. O'Brien has their new girl board out, the Vixen, which is a slightly larger board that lands super smooth.

Of course, boards may be the easy part to figure out. Bindings can be a little trickier. The number one tip with bindings is to TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! Girls' feet are very different from men's feet and a well-fitted pair of bindings can be the difference between a good time on the water and a miserable session. Girl-specific bindings are few and far between, but they are out there. The Liquid Force Minx is a one example of a high end binding designed just for us. Also, Hyperlite's sizing options, with the Extra Small, Small and the Mini-Medium, help to make for a custom fit.

Maeghan Major (pic: MasterCraft)

On to a girls' favorite thing, accessories. The number one rule is to always wear boardshorts. A good pair of boardshorts can be a bit of an investment, but are priceless for your tush. Also, a good lifejacket is a must. While they may be a little hard to come by, there are ladies-only vests. A ladies vest will be much shorter than a guys vest and it should be tailored to our curves. The choice of US Coast Guard Approved or not is yours to make, but make sure it fits. By fit, I mean a snug fit, not too tight. It should not remind you of a corset, but neither should it feel like your favorite baggy shirt.

In fall and spring you will need a wetsuit. Now this is a tough one. On most girl wetsuits I found that the legs were too long, so I took it down to my local alteration shop and had the legs cut shorter. Stick to the brand names like Body Glove or O'Neill. They may cost more on the front end, but the quality difference and warranty support more than make up for any additional costs.

Last but not least, there is your rope and handle. Make sure you invest in a "wakeboard" specific rope. Ski ropes do not work as they have far too much stretch built into them. We wakeboarders want all of our energy transferred directly to the trick we are doing and all that stretch from a ski rope is no help. Remember physics 101, once you load a ski type rope it will do all it can to recoil against the stretch…probably while you're in the air! Rope length is a personal preference. For beginning, I would recommend about 60 feet, but as you get better, try to lengthen it up. Handles can be tricky for us girls. The problem I always have is that the wrap handle is too far away from the big handle. This make tricks like KBG's much more difficult. The solution: tie a knot in the handle between the main handle and the wrap handle this will shorten that distance and let you get a firmer grip for the wrap tricks.

Sometimes wakeboarding can seem rather intimidating, especially when you usually see a boat full of guys. But remember, you can also load up a boat full of girls too. Nothing is better than a girls' day out on the lake. Girls, lets take back our side of the sport. Get out there and Ride.

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